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Comm-PASS Implementation Update *\ JL
October, 1996
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Commonwealth's Procurement Access and Solicitation System
Formore information:
Callthe Comm-PASSHelpDeskat: 1-888-MA STATE
E-Mail us at: [email protected]
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Visitthe InternetSite at: http://www.magnet,state,ma.us/Comm
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"Not only is Comm-PASSthe mostprogressivestate-sponporedprocurementsite on theInternet, but it is one ofa
veryfewsites world-wide that offers a trained, dedicatedHelp Desk- andasystem ofstatewide
public access sites - to ensure that everyone can easily andquickly utilize this on-line tool"
- Charles D. Baker, Secretary ofAdministration and Finance
Background
Comm-PASS, the Commonwealth's Procurement Access and Solicitation System, is an Internet-based tool that
allows businesses easy access to all ofthe information necessary to bid on many state contracts. Under the
leadership ofthe Weld/Cellucci Administration, the Minority Business Oversight Committee and the
Commonwealth's majorpurchasing departments have been working cooperatively with the Comm-PASS Steering
Committee to complete the design and implementation ofthe system which was brought on-line in early July.
The Operational Services Division (OSD), the Division ofCapital Planning (DCPO), and the Massachusetts
Highway Department (MHD) in conjunction with the State Office for Minority and Women Owned Business
,
(SOMWBA), began working on the site's initial design in early December oflast year. With the successful July
implementation ofthe Phase I/II system, Comm-PASS currently allows state agencies to post active and closed
solicitation information, and active state contracts, to the Internet site. The existing system also provides
comprehensive Vendor Information - including standardized forms, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page,
SOMWBA
search capability, and "HotLinks" to other state's web sites and to the Directory.
The Comm-PASS site now averages over2,500 hits each month, representing approximately 850 site visits. Over
the nexttwelve months, we expectthe number ofbusiness opportunities to expand to over 100 new solicitations
each week. The Comm-PASS site will provide businesses with access to solicitations from over 125 departments
representing more a billion dollars worth ofgoods, service and construction contracts each year. Additionally, the
site provides extensive capabilities forviewing contract awards, procurement regulations, and all the information
needed to become a vendor with the Commonwealth.
The Comm-PASSSteering Committee
The significant accomplishments made over the last few months directly resulted from the successful collaboration
ofpublic and private partners who devoted theirtime and effortto the Comm-PASS Steering Committee. The
Weld/Cellucci Administration, and the otherprimary state sponsors ofthe site, would like to thank the following
participants for theirtime and enthusiasm in making the site a success:
Philmore Anderson Operational Services Division
Pablo Calderon Executive Office forAdministration and Finance
MarciaDeegler Operational Services Division
Dale Dowdie Intellitech Consulting Enterprises, Inc.
Steve Radish Executive Office for Administration and Finance
Gary J. Lambert Operational Services Division
The Comm-PASSSteering Committee conL
Jane Henchy Information Technology Division
AntoniaJimenez Governor's Office
Rodney Jones Minority Business Oversight Committee
Tim Landy Operational Services Division
France Lopez State Office ofMinority and Women Business Assistance
John Malena Massachusetts Office ofBusiness Development
ElbaMendez Operational Services Division
Bob Mclnnis Information Technology Division
Nicholas Okoye Information Technology Systems
Ajibola Osinubi MediaInvestment Group, Inc.
Ellen Phillips Operational Services Division
Mike Rivard Fitchburg State College
James G. Robinson Minority Business Oversight Committee, Chair
Thomas M. Simmons Jackson & Company, CPAs
Deborah Snow CTCNet
Henry J. Turner Minority Business Assistance Center- UMASS
David Villeneuve State Office ofMinority and Women Business Assistance
David Young MillersRiver - CDC
SystemDevelopment
The Phase III Comm-PASS development is scheduled for delivery by early December. OSD, DCPO, and MHD
WT SOMWBA
have been meeting regularly with the Phase III developer Chen (a certified company). As aresult
WT
ofthese meetings, the initial Phase III design has been approved, and Chen's staffis developing the Phase III
application. Among other things, the enhanced site will provide new and improved functionality as follows:
The Vendor Registration functionality will allow businesses to registertheir interest in bidding on a solicitation
as either a prime or a subcontractor. This capability will also support a vendor's ability to identify and partner
with other qualified vendors in bidding on a particular solicitation.
The enhanced Search Engine will support multiple search selection criteria, including the ability to search on a
combination ofpurchasing Department, product category code, and/ormodification date range. It will also
allow vendors to go directly to a particular solicitation, or contract document, by entering the relevant Bid or
Contract number on the Search Page.
The fully developed database will allow us to capture vendor demographic data, document maintenance
activity, and vendor intent to bid information. This data will provide us with extensive reporting capabilities
including listings ofall open documents by department, close date and bid or contractnumber. It will also
allow us to generate Interested Vendor Listings by department, zip code and by product code, andto obtain and
publish more extensive web site statistical information.
A number ofthe Phase III design changes will serve to make the site more accessible to the public. These
enhancements include:
=> A full listing ofall statewide product categories, including the number ofopen solicitations or
contracts for each category, such as: Animals and Animal Supplies (4).
=> The reformatting ofthe solicitation and contract documents to display the summary information up-
front ahead ofcontact and otherDepartment-specific information.
=> A solicitation specific Interested Vendor Listing that includes the relevantminority, women, and
disadvantaged business certification information.
2.
"
Access
PublicAccessSites
For businesses that do not have a PC or Internet connectivity, the Comm-PASS project staffis developing a
network ofpublic access sites. Each access site is equipped with a PC, an Internet connection, and a printer.
To date we have over 30 signed partnership agreements with sites throughout the Commonwealth at Chambers
ofCommerce, public libraries, state college campuses, and small business development centers. We anticipate
that dozens ofadditional sites will be added in the next year. To find the nearest access site location, anyone
can call the Comm-PASS Help Line at 1-888-MA-STATE.
InternalDepartmentAccess
OSD, the Comm-PASS project team, and the state's Information Technology Division (ITD) are working
togetherto bring all state departments, and other governmental agencies on-line, with full access to Comm-
PASS. It is critical that all state personnel responsible forprocuring goods and/or services on behalfofthe
Commonwealth have access to this essential business tool. As such, we are conducting ongoing outreach to
department and agency heads, and we offer extensive technical consultation and support services, in order to
achieve full internal state access by the end ofnext year.
State Office ofMinority and Women BusinessAssistanceDirectory
In July ofthis year, the Information Technology Division implemented full Internet access at the State Office of
Minority and Women Business Assistance (SOMWBA). This access allows SOMWBA to participate as one ofthe
many Comm-PASS public access sites, and also provides the staffwith an invaluable business tool.
'In thepast weprinteda directory once ayear, butafter a month hadpassed, the directory was out ofdate.
UsingInternet technology we now have accessible up-to-date information.
SOMWBA
- France Lopez, Executive Director
SOMWBA
The Operational Services Division is currently working with staffto develop a number ofenhancements
to SOMWBA's web site. We have completed our initial functional requirements definition, and we will begin
WT
meeting with Chen to develop the preliminary design specifications by the end ofOctober. The enhancements
SOMWBA
will make the site more user friendly by providing an easy to use search capability to access the
SOMWBA
directory of certified businesses. The new functionality will also provide an alphabetic search to allow a
user to easily locate and display a particularminority, or woman-owned business enterprise. Additionally, the new
system will allow vendors to easily locate all SOMWBA certified companies who conduct business within one of
the state's procurement categories. For example, by selecting the Financial Management search category, the user
can easily identify all certified companies that provide accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, auditing, and other related
financial services; thereby greatly enhancing the ability to identify potential subcontractors.
Training
The Comm-PASS staff recently completed the training ofapproximately 150 state Minority Business Enterprise
(MBE) Coordinators, representing each ofthe state's Departments and Agencies. We have also instituted a series of
trainings for the OSD Procurement Management Teams, and we will soon be developing a focused Comm-PASS
training for between 300-500 additional state personnel. This latesttraining will be designed to present Comm-
PASS as a valuable procurement tool that is much more than an electronic replacement ofthe Goods andServices
Bulletin. Our ability to reach out to the state staffwho procure goods and services, and to help them understand the
power ofthis business application, is critical to the overall success ofthe project.
3.
Help Desk
We have had an operational Help Desk since early August, and we are now fully staffed with three highly skilled
individuals. In bringing on seasoned Internet Help Desk professionals, we have been able to minimize our start-up
time. As a result, the Help Desk has a published Mission Statement, and has drafted the Help Desk Handbook, and
an expanded FAQs list and scripted responses. We have also selected and installed a Help Desk software package
that allows us to effectively record, track and report all contacts with our internal and external customers. While the
number ofcalls, E-mail, and walk-in inquires continues to increase daily, the Help Desk has been able to respond to
all inquires within twenty-fourhours, and the average response time remains well under an hour. Currently the
Help Desk responds to overtwenty-five calls per day, on topics ranging in complexity from "what is the Comm-
PASS Internet address", to "what is the Internet, and what do I need to get hooked-up to it?" Our Help Desk staff
also routinely answer questions about downloading files, finding an Internet Service Provider, and navigating
around the Comm-PASS site.
For more information about accessing and using Comm-PASS, businesses may call the Help Desk at:
Comm-PASS
or visit the site directly at:
http:/www.Magnet.State.MA.US/Comm-PASS/
Comm-PASS
Formoreinformation:
Callthe Comm-PASSHelpDeskat: 1-888-MA STATE
E-Mailus at: [email protected]
